Two roundabouts are being proposed at highly traveled intersections in Anderson.

South Carolina Department of Transportation project manager Chris Jordan says one is being proposed at the intersection at Concord Road and Harris Bridge Road. Cathey Road will also be realigned as part of the intersection. The other roundabout is proposed at Kings Road and Brown Road.

The purpose of these projects is to improve the operation, efficiency and safety of the intersections, SCDOT officials said.

The total cost of preliminary engineering and construction of the roundabouts will cost an estimated $2.45 million for the Concord Road and Harris Bridge Road roundabout, Jordan said.

The roundabout at Kings Road and Brown Road is estimated to cost $2.2 million, including environmental studies, right of way purchases, project design, construction inspection fees.

Federal money is paying for 80 percent of the projects, while state money is paying for the rest, Jordan said.

“While we do understand the public’s concerns regarding current road conditions, there is a common misconception that this money could be spent to repair potholes or pave roads, however that is not the case. This funding has been made available by the SCDOT Commission to address MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organizations) and COG (Council of Governments) priorities in system upgrades, such as intersections, road widening, and new road construction," Jordan said. "We typically see 80 percent of the public against roundabouts prior to construction, however, after completion, we have seen a complete reversal in the public’s perception of the project with 80 percent in favor of the new intersection."

Improvements at these intersections are part of a list of projects identified by the Anderson Area Transportation Study.

SCDOT officials said there are currently 16 roundabouts in South Carolina, nine of which were studied for before and after crash data.

That data shows at 74 percent reduction in total crashes, a 68 percent reduction in injury crashes and a 100 percent reduction in fatal crashes at the intersections that were converted to roundabouts, SCDOT officials said.

Bob Perry lives on Brown Road and some of his property would have to be acquired for the project.

Perry said traffic congestion hasn't been a problem since the opening of the East-West Connector, so he believes the roundabout isn't necessary.

"I think you could talk to any neighbor here and I think they'll tell you there's not that much of a traffic problem anymore," Perry said. "With traffic so close to your front door you have to be concerned about accidents because in the past we've had accidents here come pretty close to our home."

From January 2012 to August 2015, there have been 11 crashes at the intersection of Brown and Kings Roads. There were injuries in two of those crashes and nine of the crashes caused property damage, according to SCDOT statistics.

In that same time period at the intersection of Concord and Harris Bridge Roads, there were nine crashes.

Larry Nix lives on Cathey Road and said his truck was hit while waiting to turn onto the road. He says changes at that intersection are overdue.

"Typically, when you go to turn into the road, if it's clear you better step on it as hard as you can because if somebody comes around the curve you're barely going to clear it," Nix said. "I know you're going to find some negatives. You do on anything, but it's just needed. That's the main issue."

If these plans are approved, construction is estimated to start in the summer of 2017.

The public will be able to view the plans and ask SCDOT officials questions at a meeting on Thursday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the North Pointe Elementary School Auditorium, 3325 SC 81, Anderson.